Asian and Asian American Studies

College of Liberal Arts

Asian American Studies - ASAM Courses

LOWER DIVISION

1. Writing Skills (3)

Prerequisite: Students who score 147 or below on the English Placement Test and who have not taken equivalent courses in another department are eligible for enrollment in this course.
Basic course in writing, offering intensive practice in every stage of the writing process. Writing strategies at the level of word, sentence, and paragraph. Methods for developing and organizing ideas in coherent essays. Conventional mechanics, spelling, and grammar. Also for bidialectical and ESL students.
Does not count toward graduation, but does count toward course load. Credit/No Credit grading only.

100. Composition (3)

Prerequisites: A recorded total score of 151 or above on the English Placement test, or credit in ASAM 1 (or its equivalent) or consent of the instructor.
Writing, revising, and editing non-fiction prose, with emphasis on exposition and argument. Critical reading strategies for research. Satisfies the baccalaureate degree requirement for one course in written composition in English. Also for bidialectical and ESL students.
Not open for credit to students with credit in ENGL 100W, ENGL 100, AFRS 100, B/ST 100, CHLS 104.

120. Asian American History (3)

Prerequisite/Corequisite: One G.E. Foundation course.
Overview of experiences of people of Asian ancestry in the United States. Major themes include: immigration (labor migration and refugee resettlement), racism and economic conflict, resistance to discrimination, and community building.
Not open for credit to students with credit in ASAM 220.

200. Asian American Inter-Ethnic Relations (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of GE Foundation requirements.
Inroduction to a comparative survey of racial/ethnic experiences in the U.S., with a focus on Asian Americans.
Not open for credit to students with credit in AFRS 319, AIS 319, ASAM 319, B/ST 319, CHLS 319, C/LA 319, WGSS 319, W/ST 319. Letter grade only (A-F).

215. U.S. Diversity and the Ethnic Experience (3)

Prerequisities: Open only to Integrated Teacher Education Program students.
Survey of four major ethnic groups (American Indians, African American, Latino American, and Asian American) in American society from the colonial era to the present. Special attention to the formation and transformation of each ethnic group and their individual and collective roles in the development of the United States.
Letter grade only (A-F). Same course as AIS 215, AFRS 215, CHLS 215. Not open for credit to student with credit in AFRS 215, AIS 215, B/ST 215, CHLS 215. Departments take turns offering the course in the Fall semester.

221. Contemporary Issues in Asian America (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of the GE Foundation requirements.
Examination of contemporary issues, including immigration, labor, family, public policy, popular culture, the media, and political activism in Asian America. Focuses on the U.S. in the context of the global economy and Asian diasporas.
Letter grade only (A-F).

260. Introduction to Asian American Literature (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of GE Foundation requirements.
Introduction to representative works by Asian Pacific American authors. Emphasizes interpretation of historical and contemporary Asian American experiences in various literary genres.
Letter grade only (A-F).

290. Special Topics in Asian American Studies (3)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topics of current interest in Asian American Studies selected for intensive development.
Topics will be announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units with different topics.

299. Directed Studies (1-3)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Directed studies to permit individual students to pursue topics of special research interest.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units. Letter grade only (A-F).

UPPER DIVISION

General Education Category A must be completed prior to taking any upper division course except upper division language courses where students meet formal prerequisites and/or competency equivalent for advanced study.

305. Theories and Methods in Asian Studies and Asian American Studies (3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing or consent of instructor, completion of the GE Foundation requirements; ASAM 120 or 200.
Explores theories and interdisciplinary methodologies employed in Asian Studies and Asian American Studies. Students will have opportunities to conduct research on topics of their interest.
Letter grade only (A-F).

310. Asian Americans and Education (3)

Examines issues and potential of a multi-ethnic classroom for the understanding of, and relating to students of, diverse cultural backgrounds, with an emphasis on Asian Americans.

321. Asian and Pacific American Film (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of the Foundation requirements, and upper division status.
Employs films as cultural “texts” in exploring issues including race, gender, sexuality, migrations, and the politics of representation in Asian and Pacific American communities.

330. Japanese American Experience (3)

A study of the culture, history, and literature of Japanese in America, emphasizing immigrant experience, agricultural contributions, World War II, generational issues, women in transition and family.

331. Chinese American Experience (3)

A study of the culture, history, and literature of Chinese in America, emphasizing immigrant experience, generational issues, women in transition and family.

332. Korean American Experience (3)

Examines major historical, social, political, and cultural themes that have shaped Korean American experiences, with attention to intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, and class in the U.S. Emphasizes contemporary issues in local communities and transnational connections in the Korean diaspora.

333. Vietnamese American Experience (3)

A study of the culture, history, and literature of Vietnamese in America, emphasizing immigrant experience, generational issues, women in transition and family.

334. Cambodian American Experience (3)

A study of the culture, history, and literature of Cambodians in America, emphasizing refugee and immigrant experiences, generational issues, women in transition and family.

335I. Asian and Latino Immigration Since World War II (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of GE Foundation requirements, one or more Explorations courses, and upper-division standing.
Examines the causes of massive Asian and Latino immigration as well as major contemporary issues in the Asian and Latino communities.
Same course as CHLS 335I. Not open for credit to student with credit in CHLS 335I. (Lecture and discussion, 3 hours)

340. Asian American Family (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of Foundation courses and upper-division standing.
Provides perspectives on the varieties of Asian American families by examining the social, economic, political, and cultural factors crucial in the development of conventional as well as alternative familial units.

341. Asian American/Chicano and Latino Cinema (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of the Foundation courses. A team-taught course that explores connections between Asian American and Chicano/Latino cinema, with emphases given to grounding issues presented in films within historical, literary, and cultural studies frameworks.
Same course as CHLS 341. Not open for credit to students with credit in ASAM 403.

342. Chicanos, Filipinos, and Popular Cultures (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of the Foundation courses and upper-division status.
This course is a team-taught seminar that explores the historical roots of politics of expressive and cultural practices among Chicanos and Filipinos. Special attention will be paid to themes of resistance, gender, migrations, imperialism, hybridity, and post-colonial identities and transformations.
Same course as CHLS 342. Not open for credit to student with credit in CHLS 342.

345. Asian American Community Analysis (4)

Examines socioeconomic, political and cultural profile of Asian American communities, as well as role and function of community organizations. Training in community surveys and service.
(Lecture, activity)

346. Asian Americans and the Law (3)

Examines how laws have been used to restrict Asian Americans' social, political, educational, and economic activities, as well as how this ethnic group has utilized the legal system to fight discrimination and seek justice.

347. Asian Americans and Public Policy Issues (3)

Examines public policy issues, including racial and ethnic discrimination, civil rights violations, disparities in employment opportunities, and political, cultural and media representation, affecting Asian Americans and other minorities as well as members of the dominant society.
(Lecture 3 hours.)

352. Filipino/a American Experiences (3)

Focusing on social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions of Filipino/a experiences in the United States, this course examines major issues, including legacies of imperialism, transnational patterns of capital and labor, colonial and post-colonial identities, resistance to oppression, and literary expressions.

353. Contemporary Issues in Filipino/a American Experiences (3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division Standing. Recommended: ASAM 352
Interdisciplinary approach used to examine the social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions of Filipino/a experiences in the United States from 1965 to the contemporary period. Emphases on issues of post-colonial identities, the Philippine Diaspora, patterns of labor, strategies of resistance, and cultural practices.

354. Transnational Filipino Communities (3)

Prerequisite: Upper Division Standing. Recommended: ASAM 352.
Examines the social, economic, political, and cultural realities in the Philippines and their relationship with the formation of transnational Filipino/a communities.

360. Studies in Asian American Literature (3)

Provides theoretical foundation for the analysis of Asian Pacific American literature. Addresses various issues in contemporary Asian Pacific American literary criticism including transnationalism, historical memory, gender relations, sexuality, and the development of Asian Pacific American literary “aesthetics.”

370. Gender and Sexuality in Asian America (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of Foundation courses and upper-division standing.
Explores the diverse historical and contemporary experiences of Asian Americans with respect to gender roles and relationships, family, expressions of desire, as well as the relationships among gender, sexuality, and racial/ethnic identity.

380. Asian Philosophies and Religions in America (3)

Prerequisite: Completion of GE Foundation requirements.
Influence of and changes in Asian philosophies and religions in the American environment. Emphasis on Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Shintoism in relation to individual and social values in America.

381. Asian American Women (3)

Reconstructs and examines Asian American women’s history and contemporary experiences. Assesses the complexities of intersecting social categories of oppression and Asian American women’s active pursuit of equality and dignity.
Same course as WGSS 381. Not open for credit to student with credit in HIST 381, WGSS 381 or W/ST 381. (Lecture)

407. Asians in Latin America (3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing or consent of instructor. Recommended: HIST 161
Examines the diverse histories and experiences of Asians in Latin America. Emphases placed on patterns of labor and settlement, socio-economic development of local and transnational communities, formation of ethnic identities, and expressive cultures.
Letter grade only (A-F).

410. Poverty In Asian America (3)

Prerequisites: Completion of Foundation courses, at least one Explorations course, and upper division status.
Examines poverty among Asian Pacific Americans in the context of poverty in the U.S., theories about poverty’s causes, anti-poverty policies, and poverty-fighting activities (nonprofit community-based social services, labor organizing, community organizing and advocacy).

490. Special Topics in Asian American Studies (3)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topics of current interest in Asian American Studies selected for intensive development. Topics will be announced in the Schedule of Classes.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units. Topics will be announced in the Schedule of Classes.

495./595. Seminar in Asian American Studies (3)

Selected topics in Asian American Studies. Area and topics of emphasis will vary from year to year.
Letter grade only (A-F). May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units.

499. Directed Studies (1-3)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Directed studies to permit individual students to pursue topics of special research interest.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units.

GRADUATE LEVEL

595./495. Seminar in Asian American Studies (3)

Selected topics in Asian American Studies. Area and topics of emphasis will vary from year to year.
Letter grade only (A-F). May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units.

599. Directed Studies (1-3)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
Directed studies to permit individual students to pursue topics of special research interest.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units in different semesters. Letter grade only (A-F).